12 Apr Get a Tummy Tuck NOW for your Summer 2021 Body Goals
There’s no denying that a tummy tuck is a big cosmetic procedure, and it’s also one of the most popular at Dr. Shaun Parson Plastic Surgery & Skin Center. Maybe you’ve been thinking about getting a tummy tuck for a while, especially now that it’s looking like you might actually be able to vacation in summer 2021! But it’s already spring—will you be able to show off the results with beach season being just a few weeks away? Absolutely.
Many patients are very pleasantly surprised to find out just how relatively quick tummy tuck recoveries are. There are also two kinds of tucks, a full tummy tuck and a mini tuck. The latter only addresses the area below the belly button and therefore isn’t ideal for everyone, but it does boast an even shorter recovery period. Many patients are recommended to use a binder for about six weeks post-surgery in order to help the healing process and protect the body, but about 6 – 8 weeks after either surgery you’ll be able to see some real results.
What to Expect with a Tummy Tuck
A tummy tuck, or abdominoplasty, does much more than remove excess, sagging skin from the stomach area. A tummy tuck also strengthens the abdominal muscles by using stitches to bring them closer together and create a more solid core. In fact, this aspect of a tummy tuck is the exact same procedure used to repair diastasis recti. Liposuction is so commonly associated with a tummy tuck that it’s often assumed. We rarely have symmetrical fat distribution, and contouring the stomach with liposuction during a tummy tuck is a great way to optimize results. Many tummy tucks also require the re-creation of a bellybutton, since the original bellybutton will be moved or even removed during the surgery.
All tummy tucks require a long, thin incision. These incisions vary in length, but hip bone to hip bone is common when undergoing a fully tummy tuck. If you’ve had a C-section, your surgeon may be able to use the same incision site for your tummy tuck so there is no “new” scar. Otherwise, tummy tuck incisions are kept below the beltline. This means you’ll be able to fully embrace swimsuit season and show off your new body without anyone spotting an incision.
Discretion and Tummy Tucks
It’s totally up to you if you want to reveal your secret to a flat, taut tummy or not after your surgery. Some people prefer discretion, such as Real Housewives of New Jersey star Dolores Catania—at least at first. She underwent a tummy tuck and liposuction, but did not tell her boyfriend David Principe beforehand. According to Catania, she had “extra skin that when I could pull it out like this, it bothered me. I can’t pull nothing now. I have no regrets at all—none.”
Principe isn’t the only person Catania kept out of the loop. She revealed that there are people in her life (like her mom) who don’t support elective surgery or would tell her she doesn’t “need” it. However, only you can determine if you need or want cosmetic surgery. It’s a personal decision, and today’s advanced techniques mean that nobody will be able to tell you had “anything done” unless you want them to.
Why Tummy Tucks are So Popular
Tummy tucks are one of the most-desired plastic surgeries for men and women alike, and the reasoning is pretty straightforward. Our skin is designed to stretch, and for women this is especially true of the skin in the abdomen. However, skin isn’t fat or muscle—you can’t manipulate it with diet and exercise. Once skin becomes saggy, little can be done besides a tummy tuck. There are some non-invasive skin tightening treatments that may help a little bit, but these approaches are temporary and the results are very subtle. Most people considering a tummy tuck have skin issues well beyond what a non-invasive procedure can address.
Simply put, if you want skin that is taut and a stomach that’s flat, a tummy tuck combined with liposuction is the best approach. The results are as permanent as possible, but do keep in mind that the skin will continue to age as normal and any big weight fluctuations can also affect laxity. It’s more like turning back the clock than stopping it. If you’d like to schedule a consultation for a tummy tuck at Dr. Shaun Parson Plastic Surgery & Skin Center, call (480) 282-8386 or complete the online form.